Vertical ink fountain agitator



April 1964 H. w. GEGENHEIMER ETAL VERTICAL INK FOUNTAIN AGITATOR v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 11, 1962 Illa.

INVENTORS HAROLD W.GEGENHEIMER ANDREW N. STAD MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM 8 PINE FIG.- I

ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HAROLD W. GEGENHEIMER ANDREW N. STAD MORGAN,FINNEGAN, DURHAM 8 PINE ATTORNEYS April 1964 H. w. GEGENHEIMER ETAL VERTICAL INK FOUNTAIN AGITATOR Filed OCT. 11, 1962 I L I I I i \l I i |r Jfi I FL I 1 g 11 u supply.

Unite States The present invention relates to agitators for printing press ink reservoirs or fountains and more particularly to improved mechanism for maintaining the ink in the reservoir in a continuously agitated or mixed condition for proper uniform feeding onto the ink fountain roller.

Heretofore, ink fountain mixers of the type employing a conical-shaped or fountain mixing member were positioned adjacent the bed of the ink fountain with the central axis thereof generally angularly inclined to the central axis of the ink roller. In that position, the terminal end of the mixing member was travelled along the ink roller. The member was simultaneously reciprocated and rotated in the ink fountain to maintain the ink in properly mixed condition as it was fed by the mixing member to the ink roller.

It has been found, however, that the angular disposition of the mixing member and its associated operating mechanism interfered with ready access to the ink fountain. Likewise, it was found that, with only its terminal end adjacent the ink roller, ink was forced by the inclined mixing member only toward the portion of the ink roller adjacent the fountain bed. It was also found that with the slanted disposition of the mixing member, the top surface of the ink was relatively undisturbed.

The present invention is characterized by novel mounting of the conical mixing member. In the present invention, the conical member is mounted with its central axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ink roller. In this disposition, the terminal end of the conical member is still adjacent the intersection of the fountain bed and ink roller. However, one side of the mixing member is disposed adjacent the ink roller, thereby forcing ink not only along one limited section of the ink roller, but over a substantial area of the ink roller.

Likewise, since the ink in the fountain is confined between the side of the mixer and fountain rather than merely at the tapered terminal end, more force is exerted by the mixer in urging the ink against the roller. The greater ink coverage on the roller and the greater force exerted ensure a more uniform ink coating on the ink roller.

Another advantage realized by this arrangement of the mixer and its associated mechanism is that the press operator has ready access to the entire ink fountain without the necessity of reaching over the mixer operating mechanism.

Cooperating with the agitator is a plow device operatively associated with the travelling mixer member. The plow member coacts with the mixer member, directing the ink at the outer periphery of the ink fountain into the field of action of the mixer member. The plow member is operative to form a veritable bridge of ink between the plow and mixer. This provides improved ink mixing action especially of the top surface of the ink Objects It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved ink agitating device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved agitating unit including an agitator mill whose central axis is generaly disposed transverse to the central axis of the ink roller.

3,128,599 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved agitating unit having a tapered movable agitator mill whose central axis is generally disposed vertically with the side of said mill in spaced adjacent relationship with the ink roller.

It is an added object of this invention to provide a novel agitating unit including a rotatable travelling agitator mill and a plow device operatively associated therewith for urging ink in the ink reservoir into the field of action of said mill.

It is likewise an object of the present invention to provide a novel agitator unit comprising a rotatable travelling agitator mill disposed generally transverse to the ink roller with one side of said agitator in adjacent spaced relationship with said ink roller, and a plow device operatively associated with said agitator mill for urging the ink remote from said ink roller into the field of action of said agitator mill.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters are used throughout to designate like elements:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a View taken along line 22, FIGURE 1.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention which comprises a rotatable ink agitator unit, designated generally 10, which is mounted for travel back and forth in the ink fountain 12 of an associated printing press (not shown).

Unit 10 is supported for reciprocal travel in an elongated housing 14 supported at each end by brackets 16 suitably mounted on a portion of the press frame (not shown) in accordance with the make, type and size of press on which unit 10 is to be mounted.

The ink in fountain 12 is mixed or agitated for proper feeding to ink roller 18 by a preferably conical mixer element 2%. Mixer 20 is continuously reciprocated throughout the length of fountain 12, while simulttneously ro tated therein. To accomplish this, mixer 20 is fixed to one end of a shaft 22. Shaft 22 is detachably connected by coupling 24 to one end of a drive shaft 26 rotatably mounted in a support head 28 slidably supported in housing 14.

An endless chain conveyor 30, suitably driven from motor 32 and sprockets 34 and 36, is provided for reciprocating head 28 back and forth in housing 14. Chain 30 is connected in driving engagement with head 28 by means of pin 38, block 40 and track or slot 42.

To rotate mixer 20 simultaneously with the reciprocating travel thereof, drive shaft 26 is rotatably supported in head 28 and provided with a pinion 44fixed to shaft 26. An elongated rack section 46 in housing 14 is in meshing engagement with pinion 44 and as shaft 26 is reciprocated back and forth with head 28, rack 46 coacts with pinion 44 to rotate shaft 26 and mixer 20.

A more detailed description of the construction and operation of suitable support and operating mechanism for mixer 20 is contained in the co-pending application Ser. No. 100,956, filed in the names of Harold W. Gegena heimer, William Gatto and Andrew W. Stad, filed April 5, 1961 for Ink Agitator Device, now US. Patent No. 3,084,625, and further disclosure thereof is omitted in the interests of brevity.

Brackets 16 can be of any shape consonant with the particular press frame structure. However, in accordance with the present invention, brackets 16 must be so shaped that the ultimate disposition of mixer 29 and its support shafts 22 and 26 are generally transverse to the ink roller 18. In the preferred configuration, mixer 20 reciprocates in a generally vertical plane and rotates about a generally vertical central axis, since the ink roller is conventionally supported horizontally. However, slight variations of mixer 20 from a true vertical disposition can be made without adverse effect. These variations can be as much as 20 from the vertical.

Referring to FIG. 1, with mixer 20 generally vertically disposed, the tip or terminal end 48 of conical mixer 20 is positioned adjacent the intersection of roller 18 and the forward edge 49 of bed 13 of fountain 12. location, the side 21 of mixer 20 is spaced from the circumference of ink roller 18 a distance d. At the same time, side 21 is coextensive with a segment S of the ink roller circumference. Thus, ink in fountain 12 is urged against roller 18 not only by tip 48, but by side 21 also, covering the segment S of roller 18 with ink. Likewise, since the ink agitated by mixer 20 is directed in the confined space (1, greater pressure is exerted on the ink against roller 18 than was possible heretofore when only tip 48 was operative.

It is likewise evident that the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 provides ready access to the ink fountain 12 for the press operator without the necessity of reaching over the agitator support and operating mechanism.

To coact with vertical agitator unit 10 is a plow member, designated generally 50. Plow 50 includes a pair of spaced extensions 52 and 54 generally aligned with shafts 22 and 26. Extensions 52 and 54 are secured at their upper ends to head 28, thus adapting plow 50 for reciprocating travel in fountain 12. Extensions 52 and 54 meet and form inclined plow section 56 angularly related to extensions 52 and 54 as shown best in FIG. 1. Section 56 terminates in a preferably tapered extended end portion 58 adapted for travel adjacent to the upper face of fountain bed 13. In the preferred embodiment, the leading end 59 of portion 53 is spaced from tip 48 to prevent the formation of a trough through the ink as the mixer 20 and plow 50 travel longitudinally through the ink supply in fountain 12.

In operation, as mixer 20 is rotated during its longitudinal travel in fountain 12, plow 50 travelling therewith takes the ink adjacent bed 13 and at the back section of fountain 12 remote from roller 18 and directs its toward mixer 20. Section 56 is operative to urge the ink in the back section of fountain 12 toward mixer 20, while portion 58 of plow 50 directs the ink adjacent bed 13 toward mixer 20. This action of plow 50 also ensures that the top surface of the ink will be properly agitated along with the rest of the ink supply.

Thus, there is disclosed a novel, simple and highly effective ink agitator unit.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanism shown and described, but departures can be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. An agitator device for the ink fountain of a printing press having an ink fountain roller adapted for rotation into and out of said ink fountain, said agitator device comprising an agitator mill, means mounting said mill for travel longitudinally in said fountain, means for rotating said mill simultaneously wtih its longitudinal travel in said fountain, means mounting said agitator de- In this vice on said press with the terminal portion of said agitator mill adjacent the intersection of said ink fountain roller and the bed of said ink fountain, one side of said agitator mill being positioned in adjacent, spaced relationship to the circumference of said ink roller in said fountain, whereby the ink in said fountain is forcefully urged by said agitator mill against a substantial segment of the ink roller, ensuring uniform application of said ink to said ink roller.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said mill is conical, and wherein said ink fountain roller is mounted in said press for rotation about a horizontal axis, and wherein said means mounting said agitator mill includes a generally vertically disposed support shaft.

3. An agitator device for the ink fountain of a printing press having a generally horizontally disposed ink fountain roller adapted for rotation into and out of said ink fountain, said agitator device comprising a tapered agitator mill, an operating shaft for said mill, means mounting said shaft for travel longitudinally in said fountain, means for rotating said shaft simultaneously with its longitudinal travel in said fountain, means mounting said agitator device on said press to dispose said operating shaft generally transverse to said ink fountain roller with the terminal portion of said agitator mill adjacent the intersection of said ink fountain roller and the bed of said ink fountain, and one side of said agitator mill in adjacent, spaced relationship to the circumference of said ink roller in said fountain, whereby the ink in said fountain is forcefully urged by said agitator mill against a substantial segment of the ink roller, ensuring uniform application of said ink to said ink roller.

4. In a rotatable agitator device for the ink fountain of a printing press the combination comprising a tapered agitator mill, an operating shaft for said mill, means mounting said shaft for travel longitudinally in said fountain, means for rotating said shaft and said mill simultaneously with their longitudinal travel in said fountain, means mounting said shaft mounting means on said press in angular relationship to the ink fountain roller and with the terminal end of said mill in adjacent, spaced relationship with said roller, a plow member, means mounting said ploy member for longitudinal movement with said shaft and mill, an extension formed on said plow member and disposed for movement in said fountain along a path of travel remote from said roller, said plow member and extension being operative to urge the ink in said fountain into the field of operation of said mill.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said mill is conical and said shaft is mounted for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the ink fountain roller.

6. An agitator device for the ink fountain of a printing press having an ink fountain roller adapted for rotation into and out of said ink fountain, said agitator device comprising an agitator mill, means mounting said mill for travel longitudinally in said fountain, means for rotating said mill simultaneously with its longitudinal travel in said fountain, means mounting said agitator device on said press with the terminal portion of said agitator mill adjacent the intersection of said ink fountain roller and the bed of said ink fountain, one side of said agitator mill being positioned in adjacent, spaced relationship to the circumference of said ink roller in said fountain, whereby the ink in said fountain is forcefully urged by said agitator mill against a substantial segment of the ink roller, ensuring uniform application of said ink to said ink roller, a plow element, means operatively associating said plow element with said agitator mill for longitudinal travel therewith in said fountain, said plow being constructed and arrnaged to urge the ink in said fountain into the field of operation of said mill.

7. An agitator device for the ink fountain of a printing press having a generally horizontally disposed ink fountain roller adapted for rotation into and out of said ink fountain, said agitator device comprising a tapered agitator mill, an operating shaft for said mill, means mounting said shaft for travel longitudinally in said fountain, means for rotating said shaft simultaneously with its longitudinal travel in said fountain, means mounting said agitator device on said press to dispose said operating shaft generally transverse to said ink fountain roller with the terminal portion of said agitator mill adjacent the intersection of said ink fountain roller and the bed of said ink fountain, and one side of said agitator mill in adjacent, spaced relationship to the circumference of said ink roller in said fountain, whereby the ink in said fountain is forcefully urged by said agitator mill against a substantial segment of the ink roller, ensuring uniform application of said ink to said ink roller, a plow element, means mounting said plow element on said shaft mounting means for longitudinal travel with said shaft, an extension on said plow element adapted to travel through said fountain adjacent the bed thereof, said plow element including said extension being operative to urge the ink in said fountain toward said mill.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said mill is tapered toward its terminal position and wherein said plow extension extends from the rear of said ink fountain toward said ink roller with the terminal end of said extension in spaced relationsip with the terminal portion of said mill to prevent formation of an ink trough through the ink in said fountain by the longitudinal travel of said mill and plow.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,447,849 Hough Mar. 6, 1923 1,778,600 Jones Oct. 14, 1930 2,234,754 Gegenheimer Mar. 11, 1954 2,849,952 Gegenheimer Sept. 2, 1958 

1. AN AGITATOR DEVICE FOR THE INK FOUNTAIN OF A PRINTING PRESS HAVING AN INK FOUNTAIN ROLLER ADAPTED FOR ROTATION INTO AND OUT OF SAID INK FOUNTAIN, SAID AGITATOR DEVICE COMPRISING AN AGITATOR MILL, MEANS MOUNTING SAID MILL FOR TRAVEL LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID FOUNTAIN, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID MILL SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL IN SAID FOUNTAIN, MEANS MOUNTING SAID AGITATOR DEVICE ON SAID PRESS WITH THE TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID AGITATOR MILL ADJACENT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID INK FOUNTAIN ROLLER AND THE BED OF SAID INK FOUNTAIN, ONE SIDE OF SAID AGITATOR MILL BEING POSITIONED IN ADJACENT, SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID INK ROLLER IN SAID FOUNTAIN, WHEREBY THE INK IN SAID FOUNTAIN IS FORCEFULLY URGED BY SAID AGITATOR MILL AGAINST A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT 